Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-01-26
Address


Of
ROBERT BEVERLEY, PRESIDENT OF
| FARMERS NATIONAL CONGRESS-,
| Assembled in Washington, D. C, jan
| uary II, 1887.
Gentlemen Of Farmers National Congress
i We are happyin meeting on the thresh-
;lold of the opening year, at the beautiful
capital CITY of our nation. A nation the
greatest on earth to-day, firmly united in
the bonds of peace and fraternity. and capa-
BILE of bidding defiance to world in arms.
We represent here to-day the largest
business of this nation, and of every nation.
In our representative capacity we have no
cause to be afraid or ashamed to put forth
our opinions, wishes and demands, touch
ing matters which concern the great inter.
ests and economies of agriculture, State,
inter State, national and International. 1t
is for that very purpose we are here as
| sembled.
Is it not known to all that whatsoever
brings depression or disaster or ruin upon
my productive industry hurts and binders
all producers every where, and increases the
|
every home in the land? Above all other
pursuits, this is true of that greatest of all
human OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
We are here to point out preventable
causes Of ruinous depression of the farming
interests, and to suggest remedies for the
same, demanding relief from unnecessary
burdens long borne in silence, insomuch
that it has come to be believed that we ae-
quiesce in the theory of professional politi-
cianS, that farmers are, and of right ought
to be. the burden bearers of the werld.
| One OF the chief primary objects of our
organization is to promote scientific re-
search, having in view the cheapening of
the cost of agricultural productions, and
the conservation and increase of the natural
fertility of the soil of the national domain
We seek therefore to bring to bear in all
hopeful, reasonable and proper ways, the
influence and power Of the National Gov
ernmert in this behalf. We seek to pro-
mote and provide for truly scientific edu-
cation which is actually and truly agricul.
turdt, and fer the future to correct and
prevent, and render impossible the pervsr-
sion to other uses and purposes, by ire.
sponslble politicians, of funds granted for
| this purpose.
We seek to prevent, and render impossi-
Die for the future, wanton distractions by
corrupt cnllusions, and illegal dscrimina-
tlons IN the matter of the transportation
and marketing of our products, by ire
sponslble individuals who WELD at their own
will and pleasure the grinding and soulless
machinery of reckless corporate power.
We desire and demand relief from op-
presslve war-taxes in time of peace, which
are in themselves discriminative, uncop-
stitutional, unjust and unnecessary.
Our interests require, as Ue demand, an
equitable readjustment of the whole system
OF Federal, State and municipal taxation,
distributing its burdens equally among
producers. carriers, middle men and con-
sumers. We cannot prosper in our busi-
ness unless taxation is reduced to peace
footing, without calling and grinding dis
examinations against the poor and in favor
of the rich. and with corruptiug surplus
which corruption, folly and extravaganza
combined, cannot be on account of the very
bulk ofit squandered. To the end that
agriculture, which employs and supports
one-half of all the people of this country
and largely more than one-half of the
native American people, whose conservative
tendencies are the nations safety may be
effectively represented in the nations coun-
ellis, it is necessary that there shall be in
the Cabinet Secretary Of agriculture A
bill for that purpose is pendinp before Con-
gress. American agriculture demands of
our REPRESENTATIVES promnt action in ;ts
passage
We do not desire to DESTROY or sunercede
the present Department of Agriculture, but
to increase its equipment and efficiency for
its proper work. We look upon it as a
scientific bureau, organized in the interests
of the advancement of economic aoricnltn-
| raj science It should be relieved of En-
ecutive functions, incompatible with its true
work, by creating a Secretoru of Aoricul.
ture, who on his part should occupy him.
self with political and administrative cues
tions, in which the dominant interests at
stake shall be those of American agricul-
ture, and the permanent interests of the soil
o. the national domain. That office exists.
as one of paramount Importance in the adj
mlnistration of the government of every
enlightened nation of the world, and why
not in the United States which has been till
lately the most progressive agricultural
nation of the age?
But whatever we undertake, whatever
we seek, we must work in harmony with
the spirit of the age in which our lot is cast.
We must prese. We our character, alacoys
ours, in every country and in everv age. of
genuine patriotism based on a true conser-
vativism. 1t is nevertheless our right and
duty to prepare for defence against organ
ized assaults. We are bound to transmit
unilnpaired to our children all those bless.
ings which by the mercies of God we have
received from our fathers. The tremen-
dous power of associated capital seeks to
wrest from us an undue share of the fruits
| of our toll, under the delusive pretext of in
direct taxation. A temporary organiza-
ton, mere passing phase of the times.
seeks to take from us the ownership of our
LANDS, and to lay upon the land the entire
support of the Government, including boun-
ties to bounty-iumpers, and bonuses and
pensions to the shiftless, the idle and the
vicious. Who then would be serf, bound
to the soil and owned by the Government
in whose service his necessities compelled
him to drudge?
Such extravagant vagaries need not cause
you serious alarm. Nevertheless. we can.
not shut our eyes to the fact that. the farm
l